Behind the scenes with the Grainlink team
- 31 Oct 2022
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GrainLink Ltd the grain trading arm of Wynnstay Group PLC was born following the acquisition of Wrekin Grain and the merging of its then in-house grain division Shropshire Grain in 2011.
The strategic merging of these businesses raised the grain trading profile of Wynnstay Group and has resulted in significant growth in volumes traded both regionally and nationally.
Operating from trading hubs in the West and Eastern regions of the UK the trading teams along with support staff in forwarding (Haulage) and administrative departments provide farmer suppliers with an extensive route to the UK markets. Alongside the confidence that grain transactions will be managed efficiently and professionally from point of sale, collection and delivery to end users and in the knowledge that trade is being done with a financially secure business.
What do GrainLink do?
In short, we trade grain by procuring from farmers, be it cereals which could be feed wheat for use in the animal feed industry, milling wheat, supplying the UK’s flour milling network, or the UK brewing market with malting barley. In addition, we supply into the biofuel industry and export markets with the likes of human consumption pulses (Peas and Beans).
With a daily live streaming of market price updates and agricultural news stories we provide farmers with a price quoting service on traded grains, oilseeds, and pulses. Giving them access to up-to-date international developments affecting commodity prices, this enables them to have real-time market data when looking to make a trading decision.
GrainLink operates a commodity trading software system and has a fully equipped TASSC-accredited Laboratory, providing accurate analysis on all Grains, Oilseeds, and Pulses.
These systems provide our regional grain buyers and trading teams the tools needed to market commodities on their individual qualities ensuring integration of both the suppliers' and consumers’ needs whilst maximising market price potential for all parties involved.
Meet Paul Crump - Senior Trader
As one of the senior traders, my areas of responsibility involve managing regional trading activity across all commodity groups and supporting our regional farm traders with day-to-day pricing and market analysis. In addition, I also trade with farm customers myself
By trading directly on-farm myself and maintaining my shop floor activity so to speak, I am as well equipped as I can be to understand the constraints and variables our regional buyers contend with on a daily basis, supporting them accordingly
On a personal note, although I’m not from an agricultural background I’m quite proud of the fact that I have worked in the grain and arable industry for some 40 years of which 21 of those have been spent with the Wynnstay Group. I am married with an ‘expensive’ daughter of 20 years old. A dog owner and someone who loves nothing more than a good hike in the countryside. Other interests include flyfishing, holidaying in my caravan, and developing my powerlifting skills in the gym ‘ideal for lifting the odd seed or feed bag’.
Meet Jake Nelson, Forwarding Manager
My name is Jake Nelson, I am 36 years old, and I am Forwarding Manager for GrainLink. I have been working for GrainLink for 10 years, starting as a Forwarding Coordinator and as the business has grown, I progressed to Forwarding Manager.
In my spare time, I am an avid musician and regularly play live music at pubs and venues across Shropshire. I was recently shortlisted for best acoustic artist at The Shropshire Music awards which was a great honour.
In August this year, my wife and I welcomed our first son, Alexander, which has been a new learning curve for us, but has been amazing!
As Forwarding Manager, I am fully responsible for all contracted obligations being met logistically by GrainLink.
When I first joined GrainLink, most of the grain was in Shropshire and the Midlands, but as the company has expanded, we now collect grain from all over the country, from Cornwall to Northumberland and everywhere in between. With this expansion, we now have Forwarding staff, who I am responsible for, based in Shropshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire, all with knowledge of those areas and all who have built up good business relationships with local and national haulage firms.
I took the role of Forwarding Manager in April 2022 to centralise the Forwarding team. As part of this role, I monitor contracts to ensure they are fulfilled, monitor haulage rates, and identify ways to reduce costs. As a team we look at ways to improve the department to ensure that all parts of the supply chain are happy; from notifying farmers of collections, to ensuring the grain is delivered on time and effectively.
Meet Steve Atha, Senior Trader
I began my 35-year career in agriculture with Kenneth Wilson Alternative Feeds. You might say that I've experienced my fair share of change because the company later moved to Dalgety, where I started out as a grain trader before being taken over by Grain Farmers and eventually working open-field as a senior trader.
However, had I not received the call from Wynnstay, I would not have left. The chance was to organically and sustainably increase market share and the business profile in the east, I was aware of what a well-run company it is thanks to the various organisational components.
This was an excellent chance to educate and excite people in the east about the prospects available in the industry, with no year ever being the same when it comes to supply and quality and knowing you have the support of a solid, well-run firm moving ahead.
I have been happily married for 32 years, am a proud father of triplets, and have experience caring for foster children. In terms of football, I support Leeds United.
